NLG, Shikar top performers among non-life insurance cos in 2012-13

KATHMANDU, SEP 23 - 2013

The NLG Insurance Company topped the list of policy issuance, while the Shikar Insurance collected the most premiums in the last fiscal year 2012-13.

According to the Insurance Board of Nepal (IBN), the company issued 159,156 policies in the segment last fiscal year, which is the highest among non-life insurance companies. Shikhar, on the other hand, collected premiums worth Rs 922.97 million, which is the highest among insurers.

A total of 17 insurers, including the Rastriya Beema Sasthan, issued a total of 790,498 policies and collected a total premium of Rs 8.98 billion last fiscal year. The NLG is followed by the Siddhartha Insurance , the Lumbini General, the Nepal Insurance and the Alliance Insurance companies as the top five insurers in terms of policy issuance.

The IBN statistics shows that the NLG issued 129,002 policies for automobiles, 16,128 fire insurance policies and 703 policies for marine insurance. The NLG has collected premiums worth Rs 650.84 million. “Third party insurance by motorists particularly helped to boost policies in recent years,” said an official of the NLG.

The Siddhartha Insurance issued 78,918 policies in a year. The Lumbini General Insurance issued 78,481 policies, followed by the Nepal Insurance Company (70,837 policies) and the Alliance Insurance (60,262 policies) round out the top five in the category.

From the segment of top premium collectors, Shikhar is followed by the Himalayan General Insurance , the Nepal Insurance , the NLG and the Siddhartha Insurance .

Of the Shikhar’s premium collection of Rs 922.97 million, it received its biggest contribution from vehicle related insurance products, which contributed Rs 335.77 million in premiums.

With a premium collection of Rs 898.05 million, the Himalayan General Insurance secured second position.  Shreeman Karki, director at the Insurance Board of Nepal said the government’s regulation to make third party insurance mandatory while renewing vehicles helped increase the insurance premium significantly last year. The companies collected premium worth Rs 8.1 billion in 2011-12, but the figure increased the following year. “The increasing number of vehicle users in recent times has helped increase both the number of policies, and premium amount, in vehicle insurance,” he added.

Including the Rastriya Beema Sansthan company, which carries out both life and non-life insurance, there are a total of 17 insurance companies that provide non-life insurance. These companies issued a total of 790,498 policies and collected Rs 8.9 billion in premiums by the end of the last fiscal year.

These insurance companies have been insuring economic activities under five headings in non-life insurance, related with: fire, marine, aviation, automobiles, construction and miscellaneous. The companies have issued a combined 529,220 policies, the highest being automobile related insurance, while only 87 policies were granted in aviation related insurance.

Karki said the low number of policies in the aviation sector was due to its small market size, along with the high risk that is embedded in insuring the sector. “Also, there is a high risk in keeping a large amount of retention in the segment, which has made insurers reluctant to increase the policies for aviation.”

Karki expressed hope for increasing the premium in non-life insurance in the future, due to the growing attraction for cattle and other agricultural insurance.

The companies paid Rs 3.19 billion in claim settlements for non-life insurance last year.

Nin-Life Insurance Companies’ Performance Compared

Companies  >>  No of policies issued  >>  Premium collection

Nepal Insurance     70,837    Rs 684.91 million

The Oriental Insurance     19,193    Rs 546.35 million

Rastriya Beema Sansthan    20,705    Rs 576.19 million

National Insurance     25,541    Rs 482.56 million

Himalayan General Insurance     37,966    Rs 898.05 million

United Insurance     24,199    Rs 390.31 million

Premier Insurance     21,809    Rs 329.65 million

Everest Insurance     8,043    Rs 308.53 million

Neco Insurance     38,945    Rs 412.39 million

Sagarmatha Insurance     60,201    Rs 735.01 million

Alliance Insurance     60,262    Rs 594.84 million

NB Insurance     9,460    Rs 74.73 million

Prudential Insurance     17,192    Rs 270.56 million

Shikhar Insurance     59,590    Rs 922.97 million

Lumbini General Insurance     78,481    Rs 508.95 million

NLG Insurance     159,156    Rs 650.84 million    

Siddhartha Insurance     78,918    Rs 601.99 million

Source: The Kathmandu Post

Microfinance institutions flush with profits

KATHMANDU, JUNE 07, 2013

Microfinance institutions are raking in profits amidst the growing concern over the massive lending rate being charged on borrowers.

Microfinance development banks have earned 21 per cent more profit than a year ago. The class ‘D’ financial institutions earned Rs 33.26 billion as net profit in the third quarter of the current fiscal year.

In the third quarter of last fiscal year, they had earned profits worth Rs 27 billion.

Likewise, according to the seven microfinance development banks that are listed at Nepal Stock Exchange among the 28 in operation, these

class ‘D’ development banks have increased their profit by 27 per cent.

They earned Rs 244.2 million by mid-April, 2013, against Rs 191 million earned in the corresponding period a year back.

The ever growing profits of the microfinance institutions and generous dividend payouts have made them popular stocks to be traded at the stock exchange. From last fiscal year’s profit, their average dividend distribution stood at 25 per cent of the paid up capital.

However, of late, many feel that the concentration of microfinance institutions on profits is at the expense of the rural populace who are their borrowers.

The central bank licensed microfinance banks and institutions charge lending rates as high as 20 per cent to 25 per cent from borrowers which is almost 10 percentage points higher than the rate charged by commercial banks for deprived sector loans that are similar to micro credit.

Meanwhile, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is gearing up to monitor the interest rates being charged by microfinance institutions. “We have also realised that the current rate of interest being charged for micro loans by microfinance banks are not sustainable, both for the borrower and the banks in the long run,” said spokesperson of NRB Bhaskar Mani Gyanwali.

“However, it is against the principle of the central bank to directly regulate the interest of any financial institution, but we will keep a close watch on the institutions,” Gyanwali said, adding that intervention will be undertaken if the microfinance institutions are unnecessary burdening clients for profit.

Moreover, financial institutions that are obliged to fulfil deprived sector lending requirement by the central bank opt to lend the amount to wholesale microfinance lenders at interest rates of between seven per cent to 10 per cent. The wholesale lenders then lend to individual micro credit institutions who then give the money to clients that consist mainly of poor people who reside in rural areas.

However, microfinance bankers are of the view that the interest rates being charged is in accordance with the cost of microfinancing. “The cost of going to the field, organising groups, providing focus groups with skill based training and then lending them money without any collateral is not something commercial banks are up to,” said a chairman of a microcredit bank.

“Microfinance is a business albeit a social one, and investors also expect returns, so it is not wrong if we make good money. Ultimately, if we are able to earn better then we will be able to provide better services to beneficiaries,” added the microfinance banker.

Despite the obvious benefits of microcredit in supporting the poor and ultra poor population and in creating social awareness, the growing concentration in limited areas and multiple lending to the same client has raised an alarm within the microfinance community as well.

Source: THT